Tent campsites in the Apalachicola National Forest region near Eastpoint, Florida include several primitive options for camping enthusiasts. Hickory Landing Campground and White Oak Landing Campground offer established tent camping areas within the national forest, with basic amenities suitable for those seeking a more rustic experience. Cotton Landing and Camp Mack provide additional options for tent-based overnight stays within the broader region.
Most tent camping areas feature minimal facilities, with vault toilets available at several locations including Cotton Landing, Hickory Landing, and White Oak Landing. Campsites typically include fire rings and picnic tables on natural surfaces, though campers should bring their own drinking water as many locations lack potable water sources. A camper noted that "only seven camp sites all of them next to one another" exist at Camp Mack, indicating the small, intimate nature of some locations. The region experiences warm conditions most of the year, with temperatures ranging from the 70s during the day to the 50s at night during winter months. Several locations permit alcohol and allow pets, though restrictions may apply during hunting seasons.
Walk-in tent locations throughout the forest provide access to waterways and natural areas, with boat ramps available at several campgrounds for paddling access. Sites near water bodies like the Apalachicola River offer opportunities for fishing and water recreation. One reviewer described White Oak Landing as having "open areas for more spread out, picnic tables and restrooms" along with "an everflowing water supply." The forest environment presents natural challenges including ticks and sticker bushes, particularly in wooded areas. Campers seeking maximum privacy should consider visiting during weekdays or non-holiday periods, as some locations see increased traffic on weekends. Primitive tent camping in these areas provides a budget-friendly option, with most sites charging minimal fees ranging from $3-11 per night, with some locations offering discounts for America the Beautiful pass holders.
"Loved my stay at this location."
$1 / night
"Pulled in around 3:00 on a Saturday afternoon. Only 3 other sites were being used . Felt very safe. $10 a night. With the America The Beautiful lifetime pass , we paid $8.50."
"It has open areas for more room to spread out, picnic tables and restrooms. This site also has a everflowing water supply that has been there for decades. It's sulfer water but it's clean and cold."
$69 / night
"Gravel lots close to your neighbors and a little pricey but you are paying for location."
"You can walk across the street to the beach. The sunsets are beautiful! The bath house and laundry room is always spotless."
"These campsites include a metal fire ring and picnic tables. There is also a pit toilet that is surprisingly clean, trash receptacles, and water spigots."
TravelerWe camped at Pidcock Road Campsite #49 during the 2020 Leonid meteor shower. Nice place for dogs (req'd on leash) as no other campsites nearby. Very quiet, no water or electricity. Don't trust google map for road directions, you have to approach from the east or north. Dirt roads could be an issue if wet and for larger RV-type set-ups. Marginal cell phone coverage (AT&T).
LegendThere are 3 separate High Bluff Primitive campsites, one at Dry Bridge, one at Rake Creek and one at Pidcock Road. Each spot is so far away from each other that you feel completely secluded, which is nice. We stayed at Pidcock Rd. Even though nobody was around we still kept the dogs on leash because the spot is surrounded by water on 3 sides, and we didn't want to risk any alligator attacks.
Site wasn't totally clean but definitely not the worst we've seen. There is a fire ring, picnic table, and grill. No toilet or garbage facilities so please pack out your waste.
Road in was bumpy with some huge pits but easily navigable even in our 26ft class c, just watch the road and take it slow. There was no cell service on the roads once we entered the dense forest but the spot itself was cleared of trees enough that we got service on ATT and Verizon.
We followed the step by step directions that were in the confirmation email and not google maps' directions and we had no problems.
Site was $9/night plus tax and fees which brought it to $16.79 for the one night.
GuideEasy to find and roads in are OK. Not all that busy outside of hunting season. Four spots have a picnic table. Spots are reasonably private. Did have portable toilets but some drunk idiots smashed them. Does have a trash bin.
ScoutTate's Hell State Forest is a primitive dispersed camping area slightly north the Gulf of Mexico in the Florida Panhandle region. Instead of a single campground with multiple sites, Tate's Hell provides individual camps sites through out the forest, many of which are along the Carabelle River. Sites offer fire ring, picnic table and cleared tent area. All sites are accessed by dirt roads that are fairly well maintained. Many of these sites can accommodate a popup or RV, but there are no electrical, water or sewage hook ups in the state forest. If you are looking for an authentic backwoods, roughing it camping experience - this is your place!
Sites can be reserved 1 877 879 3859. The regional ranger station is located at 290 Airport Rd, Carrabelle, FL 32322.
More info https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Tate-s-Hell-State-Forest
LegendThere are about 10 sites total at this free campground. There is a tent-only side with about 4 sites, with a pit toilet. The tent sites are much nicer than the RV sites. They are among the trees, they are more spread out, and on the water. The RV sites are all lined up in a row in an open field with no shade. The RV sites have a concrete pad as well as a fire pit and a grill and a picnic table.
We were here over a weekend and it was really, really quiet. There was only one other RV camper here besides us and no hooligans coming through, surprisingly.
Good cell service with ATT and Verizon. There are garbage bins (no recycling).
Not a fancy place but great for free. You need to make reservations in advance with the Northwest Florida Water Management District.
RangerAt over 200,000 acres, Tate's Hell is the second largest State Forest in Florida, second only to Blackwater River State Forest in Santa Rose County. That's Hell is located off of U>S> Highway 98 in Franklin County, between the Apalachicola and Ochlockonee rivers. Check out The Ledgend of Tate's Hell on the State Forest webpage, https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Tate-s-Hell-State-Forest.
For roughing it in the woods, nothing I have found beats Tate's Hell. With 36 primitive campgrounds (tent space, fire ring, and picnic table) with multiple campsites and 4 campgrounds with facilities (restrooms and some RV sites) there is plenty of room to camp and explore Tate's Hell.
The Womack Creek campground, where I spent one night, has both RV and tent campsites and a boat ramp with access to Womack Creek.
Recreation opportunities include the High Bluff Coastal Hiking Trail which is part of the Forest Service's Trailwalker Program.
TravelerOur group really enjoyed this campsite. We had 7 of us, the site technically lists that the campsite can accommodate 8, but there was plenty of space. The site also lists that it can accommodate up to 2 cars, but logistically we had to drive separately and it wasn't difficult to park everyone's cars and still have room for tents.
The site has a fire ring, charcoal grill, and a picnic table, and is a short walk away from Deep Creek. The stargazing was incredible, especially during a new moon. Very little light pollution in Tate's Hell, easily able to make out the Milky Way, especially around 8-9pm.
Seems like the picture on the website (included here) indicates that the campsite used to be closer to the creek, and it has since been moved. The creek is about a three minute walk away now, and you can see areas where a grill and table used to be near the creek. Just keep in mind that you're looking for a clearing with a picnic table, that's your campsite, don't drive until you see a creek. It is not visible from the site.
It's not required to have a 4x4 to get to the site, the dirt road that you drive on for about 2.2 miles is not in terrible shape, but there is a pretty massive puddle that you have to go through about 0.3 miles from the camp. There's a measuring stick to the left of the puddle as you're coming in that will tell you how deep it is. We just sent it and it was fine, but it could be an area of concern if there has been a lot of rain lately. One of our friends took a 2wd Camry through it no problem, so make of that what you will.
All-around good campsite, and would come back to this site.
GuideThis is a pretty nice campground. It is flat and sandy, with lots of palms and shrubbery dividing most spaces. We tent camped, but there were hammock posts at our site, as well as the usual fire ring and picnic table, and a water spigot. Our site was very roomy. There are tons of sand squirrels here--as soon as we got in, we took to the bath house (nice); when we came back our neighbors had weighted down our food totes as those (really cute, white) squirrels (read: jerks) had already tried to get into our food. I appreciated that the tent camping sites were clumped together so there wasn't an RV right on top of us.
The campground is right next to the river, which is part of the Ochlockonee River Paddling Trail (the lower part, map 5 I think). There is a very flat walking/biking trail with historical facts posted periodically, which goes around the small park, a swimming area in the river, a playground. Nearby there is another walking trail, for birding. There are no real strenuous activities here, I would say. There is a lot of neat flora and fauna (white deer!). There is also less neat fauna--horse flies. They bite and it hurts like heck. Cover up, with clothing or spray. No sitings of those big reptiles with teeth and dino tails.
Sopchoppy is the nearest town. There isn't a lot to do here, it's pretty remote. There is at least one fish shack. Head into Apalachicola for oysters, craft beer, beaches, etc.
TravelerStayed for 3 nights. The bathrooms were clean and hot water. Did see the white squirrels and deer. They had no firewood for sale so make sure to bring some. The campsites are very close if you have a inner site. We were on 17 and the other fire ring was within 5 feet. We were camped by nice people so wasn’t to bad. Closes store was 20 miles in. AT&T good service. No Wi-Fi.
Tent campsites near Eastpoint, Florida provide primitive camping options within Apalachicola National Forest, which encompasses over 632,000 acres of pine flatwoods and cypress swamps. Camping season extends year-round, with winter temperatures typically ranging from 50-70°F, making December through February the most comfortable period for extended stays. Campers should plan for sandy soil conditions throughout the region's camping areas.
Paddling excursions: Hickory Landing Campground offers direct access to Owl Creek for kayaking and canoeing. "This camp ground is very secluded and the sites are fairly private. The paddling is great on owl creek," notes camper Dawna J.
River fishing: Whitehead Landing NF Campground features a boat ramp for fishing access. According to John P., "There's a nice little boat ramp on the river," making it convenient for anglers to launch small watercraft.
Beach visits: For campers willing to venture beyond forest boundaries, Mexico Beach is accessible within a 30-minute drive. "You can walk across the street to the beach. The sunsets are beautiful!" shares Lori P. about nearby coastal options.
Affordability: Budget-conscious campers appreciate the low fees at forest campsites. One visitor to Whitehead Landing NF Campground noted, "At only $3/night, you can't beat the peace and quiet!"
Solitude during off-peak times: Weekday camping offers significantly more privacy. "Camped here for a weekend in mid-February and there was only one other person here, despite the free campground just down the road being full," reports Zack W.
Clean facilities: Some locations maintain surprisingly well-kept amenities despite their remote setting. According to a camper at El Governor Motel & RV Park, "The bath house and laundry room is always spotless."
Wildlife presence: Campers should prepare for encounters with insects. As Katlyn A. warns about Cotton Landing, "Ticks are definitely out at this campsite but only in the woods so get fire wood along the dirt road on your way in to avoid the ticks and sticker bushes."
Limited availability: Some camping areas have very few sites, requiring early arrival. Jacob F. points out that one location has "Only seven camp sites all of them next to one another. River runs along the border of the camp there is a boat launch."
Water quality varies: While potable water is scarce, some locations offer non-potable options. John P. notes, "Non-potable water spigot" is available at some sites, but campers should bring drinking water.
Pack trash bags: Some campsites require cleanup before use. A visitor observed, "Most of the fire rings seem to double as garbage cans by other campers as they leave, despite the nearby receptacles. So expect to pick up someone else's trash before you can build a fire."
Consider hunting seasons: Family camping trips should account for increased hunter presence during deer season. Whitehead Landing NF Campground is "popular as a hunters camp during deer season," which may affect camping atmosphere.
Verify amenities: Site features vary significantly between locations. While some tent sites include "metal fire ring and picnic tables," others may lack basic facilities. Contact rangers for current information before departure.
Limited privacy: RV spots tend to provide minimal separation between vehicles. At El Governor Motel & RV Park, one camper observed, "This is a very small campground where you park very close together. The park is very clean. No shade. Full hookups."
Security considerations: Some campgrounds lack formal security measures. Brian notes, "We were a little concerned as our lot backed up to the road and there was no security we could see. Gates open 24-7, but had no issues."
Cell service coverage: Mobile connectivity varies by provider. As one RVer notes about forest camping, "Decent Verizon signal, no T-Mobile," indicating campers should check their carrier's coverage maps before relying on mobile service.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Eastpoint, FL is Hickory Landing Campground with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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